Means for cutting the wrapper from rolls of newsprint and the like



June 30, 1953 w. OELKRUE 2,643,716

MEANS FOR CUTTING THE WRAPPER FROM ROLLS 0F NEWSPRINT AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1950 him.

film all. 00/161200 BY m fW/OZZ ATTORNEYS June 30, 1953 w, L, OELKRUE 2,643,716

MEANS F CUTT G T WRAPPER FROM ROLLS NE RIN ND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WZ/mrdl fe /$1M" BY M W JM v ATTORNEYS Patented June 30, 1953 S FOR CUTTING THE WRAPPER FROM ROLLS OF N EWSPRINT AND THE LIKE Willard IL. ,Oelkrue, ,OilGitY, Pa.

Application December 4, 1950, SerialNo. 198,952 4.0laims. (Cl. 164-39.)

' This invention relates toa machine for cuttin the wrapper off of large heavy rolls of papers, such as rolls of newsprint. Such rolls of paper are protectively wrapped at the mill with a wrapper consisting of circular headers of strong craft paper at the ends and a sheet of similar material about the cylindrical surface of the roll, all lapped and adhesively unitedforming an envelope strong enough to withstand the ordinary hazards of shipment.

Insofar as applicant is aware, the only way to remove this wrapper is manually with a-knife, by which the wrapper is slit at strategic locations and :torn off. Since .the paper is tough and there is no way to ensure .that the knife 'will:not out too deep, or deviate, damage to many of the laminations .of the roll is common. The manual method is also time-consuming and laborious.

The present inventionhas for'its object to provide apparatus in which a rollof paper may be positioned, rotated against knives which simultaneously sever the end headers of the wrapper in planes which avoid theedges of the enclosed roll, and then subjected to the reciprocating ac tion of a transverse saw precisely adjusted for depth of cut, by which meansthe cylindrical part of the wrapper is slit throughout the length of the roll.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention proceeds.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of the following specification:

Figure 1 is a plan viewof a wrapper cutting machine embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section through a floor'joist'showing a side elevation of the wrapper cutting maor well in the the wrapper cutting machine comprises arec tangular frame consisting of two parallel side members I and 2 o'f'right angular cross-section, having upstanding flanges 3 and 4 and horizontal base flanges 5 and 15, the latter resting upon three parallel spaced cross pieces I.- The cross pieces are divided at intermediate "points, as shown at 8, the divided ends being adjustably 2 secured'bya plate 9, having bolts H! which pass through slots H in the divided ends. By this means,- slight adjustment may be made in the width of the frame. Rolls of paper vary slightly in width, and the frame forms a runway for the rolls,'which pass between the upstanding flanges 3 and d, guided thereby. At the front of the frame where the roll enters, the flanges 3 :and 4 are flared outwardly, as shown at [2, so as to avoid the corners catching and tearing theroll;

At one side of the frame, on the outside and secured thereto, is the shelf l3 which supports the motor and gear reduction box l5. At the other side of the frame, projecting therefrom,

istheunitary extension it, which carries the fulcrum E6 of an operating lever IT.

A pair .of spaced parallel feed rollers l8 and I9 bridge the frame-being journaled in bearing in the flanges 3 and l. The shaft ofthe roller [8 is connected to a gear, not shown, in the gear reduction box, and is thus drivenfrom the motor.

The shafts of both rollers carry pulleys 20 and 2| of the. same diameter, at the outside of the upstandingflange with a belt connection 22 between them, by'which the feed roller I9 is drivenat the same speed as the roller [8; The

rollers are'preferably corrugated.

An oscillatable shaft 23' is positioned between the rollers l8 and 19, parallel thereto and at a lower level, said shaft being also journaled in bearings in the flanges Sand 4, and extending beyond the flange Q, the extended end being provided with alever 24 for operating said shaft. At the ends of said'shaft adjacent the flanges 3 and t are the knife'holders 25, which are collars surrounding said shaft adjustably thereon both longitudinally and circumferentially by means of set screws 26. Said collars have sockets in which removable knives 2"! are fixed by means of set screws 28. When the knife holders are against the side flanges .3 and l, the knives are at the proper distance tosever the ends of the wrapper without cutting into thesenclosed newsprint.

. The frame is intended preferablyto be set in a-recess-in the floorso that the rollers l8 and i9 are-at about floor level. With the frame so positioned, it requires little effort .to .roll the roll onto the rollerslB and i9 until it is supported entirely by said rollers. Since these rotate in the same direction, the rollof paper will be-slowly revolved.

The knives 21 are in such phasewith respect to the operating lever 24 that when thelatter i approximately horizontal against a stop 29 formed on-the extended end ofthe adjacent cross piece Z, the knives are at proper penetrating depth with respect to the wrapper of the paper roll. When the wrapped roll is rolled upon the feed rollers 18 and IE, it depresses the knives 21,

causing the lever 24 to cock up at an acute an le. The operator, who may be the same man who pushed the roll upon the rollers l8 and I9, now presses thelever 24 with the foot down against the stop 29. This causes the knives to penetrate the wrapper. As the roll revolves, circumferential cuts ensue at the ends of the roll, cutting off the headers of the wrapper. The knives are adjusted longitudinally against the flanges 3 and 4 so that the line of severance comes between the edge of the newsprint and the end of the wrapper.

An adjacent pair of roll supporting means is constituted by the transverse bar 30 and the reciprocating saw assembly 31. The bar 30 is parallel to the feed rollers and bolted in one of the side flanges 3 and 4. The saw assembly 3! consists of a thin blade 32 of considerable depth to be adequately load sustaining, which extends at its ends through vertical slots 33 in the flanges 3 and 4. The upper edge of the blade is serrated. The blade is reinforced by a backing plate 32' to prevent the blade sagging or buckling under the weight of the roll. The backing plate can be adjusted vertically by means of bolt and slot connections 33. The end of the blade extends through the slot in the flange 3, and is connected by a link 34 with the operating lever 17. A stop 35 on the blade limits its amplitude of movement so that its remote end will not be pulled out of the slot in the flange 3.

After the headers have been cut off, the -operator pushes the roll off of the support constituted by the feed rollers and onto the support afforded by the bar 30 and the saw. The spacing between the bar 30 and saw is wide enough to provide a stable support for the roll, but sufficiently narrow so that the saw is almost directly beneath the roll. With the roll thus supported, the operator reciprocates the saw blade once or twice, slitting the cylindrical part of the wrapper from end to end. One complete reciprocation of the saw is usually sufficient. The roll is then pushed off of the machine at the opposite end to that at which it entered.

The journals of all of the rollers are sufiiciently long to permit said adjustment of the frame within the limits of the plates 9, without risk of the rollers coming out of their bearings.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the specific details of construction and arrangement of parts, as shown, are by way of example and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a wrapper cutter for wrapped rolls of newsprint and the like of the type which includes a guiding frame for a roll adapted to operatively support a knife for longitudinally slitting the wrapper of a roll guided by said frame, a pair of opposite parallel side members of angular cross-section constituting the guiding elements of said frame, having supporting base flanges and upstanding side flanges spaced apart a distanoe substantially the width of a roll, defining between them a passage for, guiding the roll, frame cross members bridging the space between said side members and secured thereto, wrapper end severing means carried by said frame including spaced parallel driven rollers transversely bridging said frame, journaled in bearings in said upstanding side flanges, by means of which rollers the roll is stably supported, and revolved, an oscillatable knife shaft journaled in said side flanges between and below said rollers and parallel thereto, knives at opposite ends of said knife shaft within said frame, in the same phase,

an operating lever at one end of said shaft outside said roll passage, a stop carried by said frame for supporting said lever with the knives in abstract cutting position, said shaft being yieldable under contact pressure of a roll resting upon said rollers, with said knives, to displace the latter from cutting position and raise said lever from its support, whereby cutting of the ends is effected at will by forcing said lever against said stop.

2. In a wrapper cutter for wrapped rolls of newsprint and the like of the type which includes a guiding frame for a roll adapted to operatively support 'a knife for longitudinally slitting the wrapper of a roll guided by said frame, a pair of opposite parallel side members Of angular cross-section constituting the guiding elements of said frame, having supporting base flanges and upstanding side flanges spaced apart a distance substantially the width of a roll, defining between them a passage for guiding the roll, frame cross members bridging the space between said side members and secured thereto, wrapper end severing means carried by said frame including spaced parallel driven rollers transversely bridging said frame, journaled in bearings in said upstanding side flanges, by means of which rollers the roll is stably supported, and revolved, an oscillatable knife shaft journaled in said side flanges between and below said holders and parallel thereto, knife holders at opposite ends of said knife shaft against said side flanges, knives carried thereby, in the same phase, having their cutting edges slightly spaced from said side flanges, an operating lever at one end of said shaft outside said roll passage, a stop carried by said frame for supporting said lever with the knives in abstract cutting position, said shaft being yieldable under contact pressure of a roll on said rollers, with said knives, to displace the latter from cutting position and raise said lever from its support whereby cutting of the ends of the wrapper is effected-at, will by forcing said lever against said stop.

3. In a wrapper cutter for wrapped rolls of newsprint and the like of the type which includes a guiding frame for a roll adapted to operatively support a knife for longitudinally slitting the wrapper of a roll guided by said frame, a pair of opposite parallel side members of angular cross-section constituting the guiding elements of said frame, having supporting base flanges and upstanding side flanges spaced apart a distance substantially the width of a roll, defining between them a'guiding passage for the roll, frame cross members bridging the space between said side members below said roll passage and secured to said side members, said cross members being intermediately divided and having their ends at the lines of division adjustably joined whereby the Width of the roll passage may be altered to suit rolls of different lengths, wrapper end severing means carried by. said frame including spaced parallel driven rollers transversely bridging said frame, journaled in hearings in said upstanding side flanges, by means of which rollers the roll is stably supported-and revolved, an oscillatable knife shaft j'ournaled in said side flanges between and below said holders and parallel thereto, knife holders at opposite ends of said knife shaft against said side flanges, knives carried thereby, in the same phase, having their cutting edges slightly spaced from said side flanges, an operating lever at one end of said shaft outside said roll passage, a stop carried by said frame for supporting said lever with the knives in abstract cutting position, said shaft being yieldable under contact pressure of a roll on said rollers, with said knives, to displace the latter from cutting position and raise said lever from its support whereby cutting of the ends of the wrapper is effected at will by forcing said lever against said stop.

4. In a wrapper cutter for wrapped rolls of newsprint and the like of the type which includes a guiding frame for a roll adapted to operatively support a knife for longitudinally slitting the wrapper Of a roll guided by said frame, a pair of opposite parallel side members of angular cross-section constituting the guiding elements of said frame, having supporting base flanges and upstanding side flanges spaced apart a distance substantially the width of a roll, defining between them a guiding passage for the roll, frame cross members bridging the space between said side members below said roll passage and secured to said side members, said cross members extending outwardly beyond one of said side members, wrapper end severing means carried by said frame including spaced parallel driven rollers transversely bridging said frame,

journaled in bearings in said upstanding side flanges, by means of which rollers the roll is stably supported, and revolved, a shelf fixed to the extended portions of said cross members, a motor on said shelf, one of said rollers being driven from said motor, pulleys on said rollers at the outside of one of said side members, beltconnected whereby one of said rollers is driven from the other, an oscillatable knife shaft journaled in said side flanges between and below said holders and parallel thereto, knife holders at opposite ends of said knife shaft against said side flanges, knives carried thereby, in the same phase, having their cutting edges slightly spaced from said side flanges, an operating lever at one end of said shaft outside said roll passage, a stop carried by said frame for supporting said lever with the knives in abstract cutting position, said shaft being yieldable under contact pressure of a roll on said rollers, with said knives, to displace the latter from cutting position and raise said lever from its support whereby cutting of the ends of the wrapper is effected at will by forcing said lever against said stop.

WILLARD L. OELKRUE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 9,054 Leviness Jan. 20, 1880 305,484 Staples Sept. 23, 1884 1,026,482 White May 14, 1912 1,761,984 Frick June 3, 1930 2,199,648 Parkhurst May 7, 1940 2,524,489 Strong Oct. 3, 1950 

